Cruising is not just a travel option for your grandma and her sewing club. If you haven’t been on a cruise (or haven’t cruised in the last 10 years), you’re missing out…and here’s why:
#1 Cruise Ship Atmosphere
Let’s start with one of the most important considerations in any vacation: Atmosphere. Cruises are often touted for their relaxing atmosphere. A cruise can provide a luxurious getaway in a laid-back environment – one that is perfect for unwinding and escaping the stresses of everyday life. While onboard your cruise, you can forget about all your cares…up to and including cooking, laundry, making the bed. When I go on vacation, sometimes I want to do as little as possible (that’s the lazy side of me for sure). But let’s be real. How many days are you worrying about ALL of the needs of others? If you’re like me, that sums up MOST days. So don’t feel guilty about wanting a few days to let others take care of you.
#2 Affordable Vacation
Ok now we’re talking cheap vacations. The level of boujee described above can be crazy expensive in other hotels/resorts. However, a cruise comes complete with all these glorious bells and whistles and it includes your travel from city to city or country to country. A travel itinerary that includes a 7-day all inclusive resort for two people can run you about $2,000 and you’re just staying in one spot (typically).
#3 Stress-Free Travel
Traveling on a cruise is truly stress-free! On a cruise, you’ll be sailing to your next port while you’re enjoying a cocktail with your dinner, getting a couples massage, sneaking in a workout, dancing the night away or catching up on those much needed Zzzz. Travel doesn’t get any more stress-free than this because you’re busy enjoying yourself as you move from destination to destination.
#4 Endless Vacation Activities
I love the variety of activities when I travel by cruise ship. There is absolutely something for everyone on a cruise. It’s the most versatile and inclusive form of travel I have yet to discover. Whether you are a party girl or a gym rat, a cruise has you covered. From swimming pools and spas to outdoor sports and entertainment, cruises provide a plethora of activities for all ages and interests. They are inclusive of couples, singles, seniors, kids (with the exception of a few adult only cruises), friends of Bill W, LGBTQ+ and almost any group of folks that comes to mind.
You can learn to salsa or finally master the wobble on a cruise. You can learn the art of napkin or towel folding and make an elephant or swan. If you prefer the finer arts, you can take a photography class or learn to paint. Just want the art without the work? Attend the art sale on board the ship. Interior design is your thing? Well there are plenty of places to explore onboard. The cruise lines hire top designers to deck out their decks. So inspiration is just around the corner and in every nook and cranny on a cruise ship. More of a gamer? No problem! You’ll find an assortment of board games, video arcades, a full casino, drag queen bingo, and challenging trivia at your disposal while you’re at sea.
#5 All-Inclusive Travel Vibes
To piggy back on the stress-free vibes on board a cruise ship, it’s nice to know that everything is included. With food, drinks, and accommodations all included, cruises also make it easy to budget and enjoy your vacation without having to worry about extra costs. I do need to add an asterisk here… Just know that the definition of “everything included” can vary from ship to cruise line company to company. For example: every cruise is going to include your food and basic beverages (coffee, tea, breakfast juices, water, iced tea lemonade and sometimes a fruit punch or similar item. Cruises like Virgin Voyages also offer basic soft drinks and mocktails. Most ships have premium drink packages that you can purchase to include all other drinks (premium coffees/lattes, alcoholic beverages, and freshly pressed juices at spas and wellness centers).
#6 Exquisite Travel Destinations
The list of travel destinations will astound you! With a long list of destinations available, from the Caribbean to the Antarctic, you can explore new places and cultures without having to worry about planning or booking extensive travel packages. Excited to sail the Mediterranean? No worries. They have that. Dreaming of Egyptian sunsets? Yep, they’ve got that too. Just want to sail around aimlessly (without any destinations)? Well they have that too (“Sail to Nowherre”). If you crave it? They’ve created the travel itinerary to match it.
#7 Explore Culture & Cuisine
Enjoy a wide array of cuisine and cultural activities from all over the world. Whether you’re into Italian or Indian, you’ll find plenty of variety – all in one place. Our latest cruise (aboard Virgin Voyages) showcased a multitude of vegetarian and vegan options. This was so refreshing! Not that I embrace a fully vegetarian/vegan lifestyle but my goal onboard this cruise was to embrace healthier choices and Virgin made it very easy to do so!
#8 High End Amenities
With pools, lounges, bars, and spas, you can enjoy all the amenities of a luxury hotel without having to leave the ship. In addition to this, the wifi accessibility makes it easy to stay in touch with friends and family, or to get a little work done (although I rarely am motivated to do this lol). Each cruise line is different and offers unique features. Some offer elaborate spa retreats (the size and offerings vary from ship to ship), while others offer sky-diving simulators, bumper cars and water slides. They have shows to keep you entertained, I like to do these on my sea days (when I’m not in port, exploring new towns/countries).
#9 Fun Excursions
Looking for something fun while on shore? You got it! Every cruise is a unique, full-blown travel ADVENTURE!! Enjoy a variety of shore excursions, such as snorkeling, zip-lining, and sightseeing, that are sure to provide an adventure. Tap into the local culture by touring a local tequila factory or take a foodie tour around town to savor the essence of your travel destination. Bask on a secluded beach, get SCUBA certified or visit a local wildlife reserve. Learn about local history at area museums and art galleries on a walking tour. If you’re still in “cruise mode” you can take a boat tour or rent a scooter or segway to cruise through town! The list is virtually endless.
#10 Affordable Luxury Accommodations
Hopefully I’ve already drawn your attention to some of the luxury amenities such as the food, etc. Now let’s talk about the details – the nuances, if you will. Cruises just FEEL luxurious. It’s in the chandeliers that adorn the central areas and it’s in the fine linens and service items in the restaurants. Honestly, after taking many cruises, I can say the most luxurious component aboard any cruise line is the SERVICE!! Trust me when I say that the service on a cruise ship will RUIN YOU for other vacations! This must be how the uber rich feel when they go to dinner or the salon. Catering to your every need with a genuine smile and an eagerness to serve you is the benchmark of cruise line service. It’s a getaway that provides all the amenities of a five-star hotel at a fraction of the cost and the service and treatment of a 5-diamond experience!
#11 Travel that’s Fun for Kids
Don’t want to leave the kids at home? Many cruises offer a variety of activities for kids, from onboard pools, waterslides and splash zones. Curl up in a lounge chair for movie night at the pool. Enjoy inside spaces designed for kids such as playrooms, supervised activities and teen clubs, as well as bumper cars, basketball courts, mini golf, surfing simulators and so much more (will vary from cruise ship to cruise ship).
#12 Socializing Opportunities
With other vacationers from all over the world, cruises provide a great opportunity to make new friends and socialize with like-minded folks or to expand your horizons and make new friends that have a different take on the world. Either way, you’ll always find interesting people to talk to and that says nothing about the people watching opportunities if that’s your thing.
#13 Romantic Travel Option
Romantic setting – Cruises are perfect for couples, offering romantic atmospheres and activities like sunset dinners and spa treatments. Most cruise lines offer romantic packages to take advantage of specialty restaurants (usually an up-charge per person fee) and complimentary/included drinks or champagne. Some of them even include keepsake photo packages to remember your special time onboard.
#14 Convenience while Traveling
With one-stop shopping, you can book all your travel and activities in one place to make planning your trip easy and stress-free. With most cruise lines having a custom app, you can make all of your travel plans directly on your cell phone or tablet. Need to change dinner times? Do it on the app. Want to book a show or a couples massage? The app can do that too. Of course these options will also vary from ship to ship but ease of scheduling is a key focus for the cruise lines moving forward and I’ve noticed huge improvements in this area, just in the past 5 or 6 years.
#15 Unique Travel Memories
Unique memories to last a lifetime – With all the wonderful experiences and memories you’ll make, you will have “stories for days” to tell your friends and family. I’m still getting mileage out of crazy adventures I took on my very first cruise…and you will too! So leave me a comment and tell me your crazy travel stories or let me know where you’re cruising to next on your next cruise vacation.
Where have you cruised to and did you love it?
Jacqueline
